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SEATTLE -- Matt Hasselbeck played three series during the
Seahawks' only intrasquad scrimmage of the summer Saturday night. That could be about two series more than Seattle will see of its
Super Bowl and Pro Bowl quarterback from the 2005 season during
each exhibition game this month. Hasselbeck said following his 12-for-17, 97-yard performance
against the second-team defense before about 7,000 fans at Memorial
Stadium that doctors have advised him to play less than he wants
during preseason games -- when opponents will be allowed to hit him,
unlike Saturday. The Seahawks' first exhibition game is Aug. 12 at San Diego,
almost a full seven months after Hasselbeck had surgery to attach
torn labrum cartilage in his left, non-throwing shoulder.
Hasselbeck has practiced without limitations through the first week
of non-contact training camp, but his doctors don't want him
exposed to pass rushers before Sept. 9 in the regular-season opener
against Tampa Bay. "I know what my surgeon said in Alabama," Hasselbeck said of
Dr. James Andrews, who performed the surgery days after Seattle
lost in overtime at Chicago in the NFC divisional playoffs in
January. "I know what our team doctors have said here. But I don't
know that that's something that can't change, depending on how I
do. "So I'm working hard when we're not practicing, trying to get
stronger, trying to get better. And hopefully we can push the
envelope on that a little bit." When asked specifically how limited doctors have told him they
want him to be in preseason games, Hasselbeck flashed a wry smile. "Uh, I'll let Coach Holmgren answer that one. He knows,"
Hasselbeck said. All Holmgren has said publicly so far about this is:
"Physically, he can do everything at practice ... (he's) healed
up. He has to get a little stronger, but he is real close. "When it comes to the (preseason) games, we'll have to wait and
see how we're going to play that." The star of Saturday night's scrimmage was D.J. Hackett, an
inactive list player from last September whom the Seahawks are
giving a chance to start opposite Deion Branch this month. Hackett
had five catches for 65 yards -- including a smooth, 39-yard catch
on a perfectly in-stride pass from backup Seneca Wallace. "Yeah, he had a good day. He moved well, and we need that from
him," Holmgren said. Shaun Alexander carried just one time, for 5 yards. But the
former league MVP, who missed six games with a broken foot last
season, said he was in for more plays Saturday during regular
scrimmage downs and then red zone plays than he's done during
recent intrasquad scrimmages. "You know what? I did more today that I did the last two
years," Alexander said. "I don't know if I even had on pads at
this last year." Patrick Kerney played with the first-team defense. It was the
defensive end's first action since surgery last November to repair
a torn pectoral muscle that ended his season after nine games. "It felt good to be out there playing again. Throwing punches
(to fend off blockers) felt great," said Seattle's big free-agent
signing on defense this offseason. Walter Jones sat out the scrimmage because Holmgren said the Pro
Bowl left tackle's shoulder was "a little sore." The only injuries of note were reserve wide receiver Ben Obomanu
and backup tight end Ben Joppru, who injured his hip. Obomanu injured his neck on a 17-yard catch and run when he was
hit in the helmet by C.J. Wallace, a rookie safety from Washington.
Obomanu, a seventh-round draft choice in 2006, walked to an
ambulance with medical personnel flanking him. Holmgren did not immediately know the severity of Obomanu's
injury.
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